Summary

Cancer that develops in any portion of the stomach and may spread to other organs.

Presents with weight loss and abdominal pain, although patients with proximal or gastro-oesophageal junction tumours may present with dysphagia.

Upper GI endoscopy with biopsy demonstrating carcinoma is required to confirm the diagnosis. Staging based on imaging is required.

Early-stage disease is treated with surgery alone.

Locally advanced disease should undergo surgery followed by postoperative chemoradiation, or chemotherapy before and after surgery.

Metastatic disease is treated with chemotherapy or chemoradiation and supportive care measures.

Common complications are gastric bleeding and obstruction.

Definition

Stomach cancer is a neoplasm that can develop in any portion of the stomach and may spread to the lymph nodes and other organs. Most are adenocarcinomas. Other histological types include lymphoma, leiomyosarcoma, neuroendocrine tumours, and squamous cell carcinomas, but these are uncommon and will not be discussed here.